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Science Forum Index » Medicine - Cancer Forum » A new use for the breast cancer drug Herceptin has been appr
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| J |
 Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 6:14 am |
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Sounds like UK'ers may soon be covered as well.
J
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/11/061119122411.htm
Date: November 19, 2006
A new use for the breast cancer drug Herceptin has been approved by the
FDA, a move that means more treatment options for the 25 percent of breast
cancer patients with early-stage HER-2 positive breast cancer.
Dr. Edward Romond, a cancer specialist and researcher at UK HealthCare's
Markey Cancer Center, was instrumental in researching and analyzing the
results of two massive clinical trials of early-stage breast cancer
patients who received Herceptin in combination with chemotherapy. The
results indicated a 52 percent decrease in the risk for breast cancer
recurrence compared with patients who received the same chemotherapy
without Herceptin. "In terms of a single leap forward, this is probably
the most dramatic we've had in a long time," Romond said.
The study revealed the use of Herceptin in early-stage HER-2 positive
breast cancer was effective. Herceptin was previously only used in
late-stage breast cancer or cancer that had spread to other sites. The
effectiveness of this new treatment therapy offers hope to the 25 percent
of breast cancer patients who have HER-2 positive breast cancer, which is
an extremely aggressive and fast-spreading cancer. This study has changed
the outcome from one of the most worrisome kinds of cancer to one that has
a much better prognosis, Romond said.
The NCI-sponsored national clinical trial featured more than 500 testing
sites throughout the United States and Canada and included 3,351 women.
Romond has since become the national spokesperson for this new use of
Herceptin in treating early-stage HER-2 positive breast cancer.
Romond is a professor of medicine in the University of Kentucky College of
Medicine, and is a cancer specialist at the UK HealthCare Markey Cancer
Center. He was the principal investigator for the Herceptin study, and
also chaired the same study for the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and
Bowel Project. He also recently was honored with the 2006 Celebration of
Life Award from the Lexington affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation
for his breast cancer research efforts and excellent patient care. |
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